Abstract
Impaired cellular uptake and utilization of glucose is the hallmark of non-insulin-dependent-diabetes (NIDDM). We have developed a quantitative assay to probe the expression of glucose-transporter genes in tissues derived from patients with NIDDM. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we assessed levels of expression of the insulin responsive glucose transporter GLUT-4 in adipose tissue of patients with NIDDM and in obese patients. We report that expression of GLUT-4 is reduced in NIDDM and in obesity associated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. These results suggest that reduction of GLUT-4 levels in the adipose cell plays an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, an early feature of NIDDM.
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This work was supported by Grant from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Rome, Italy). Target Project: Progetto Finalizzato Invecchiamento (n. 92.00280.PF40) and in part Progetto Finalizzato Fatma
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Giacchetti, G., Faloia, E., Taccaliti, A. et al. Decreased expression of insulin-sensitive glucose transporter mRNA (GLUT-4) in adipose tissue of non-insulin-dependent diabetic and obese patients: Evaluation by a simplified quantitative PCR assay. J Endocrinol Invest 17, 709–715 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347765
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347765